Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'

Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit shakes coalition with exit over Gaza deal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 19 Jan 2025 11:24
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

In his resignation letter to Netanyahu, Ben Gvir criticized the ceasefire deal as a "surrender" and "a complete victory" for Hamas.

Listen
  • x
  • Israel's far-right Police Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, center, in a statement to the media, says he will quit if “Israel” approves Gaza ceasefire, at his office in occupied al-Quds on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP)
    Israel's far-right Police Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, center, gives a media statement at his office in occupied al-Quds on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (AP)

Just hours after the ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect, the far-right Otzma Yehudit party officially exited "Israel’s" coalition government, following through on its threat to withdraw if a ceasefire deal with Hamas was enacted.

Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and "Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience" Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf all submitted their resignation letters to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party issued a statement confirming that effective immediately, Otzma Yehudit was no longer part of the coalition.

In his resignation letter to Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir acknowledged the "significant achievements" during the prime minister's leadership but criticized the ceasefire deal as a "surrender-to-terror" agreement that "crosses all ideological red lines." He argued that the ceasefire was "a complete victory for terrorism" and stated that the party would no longer support the government on ideological matters.

"We will not return to the government table without a complete victory against Hamas and the full realization of the war's goals," Ben-Gvir emphasized.

Deal is 'reckless'

It is worth noting that Ben-Gvir announced Thursday that his Otzma Yehudit party would leave the coalition government if the recently mediated ceasefire agreement with Hamas is approved.

At the time, Ben-Gvir sharply criticized the deal, describing it as "reckless" and claiming it includes concessions that undermine the Israeli occupation achievements. "The agreement involves releasing hundreds of murderers, the return of hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents to the northern sector, including thousands of terrorists, withdrawal from the Philadelphi Route, and a ceasefire," he stated.

Related News

Famine, massacres, and relentless strikes turning Gaza to 'wasteland'

Tech staff challenge Israeli ties at Amazon, Microsoft, and Google

According to Ben-Gvir, the deal "ends all the accomplishments we have achieved for the state and does not ensure the release of all the hostages."

Emphasizing his party's position, Ben-Gvir declared that Otzma Yehudit, under his leadership, "does not topple Netanyahu nor cooperate with the left and its goals against the government. However, we cannot remain part of a government that approves a deal providing a significant reward to Hamas and risks another catastrophe like October 7."

Netanyahu has lately faced mounting internal pressures in light of the ceasefire deal. His key far-right allies have expressed strong opposition to the deal even though it would get the captives out of Gaza.

Ben-Gvir has repeatedly publicly rejected the agreement, while Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, voiced his concerns on X late Wednesday. Smotrich called the deal "bad and dangerous” for the Israeli occupation and demanded "absolute certainty" that the military could resume operations in Gaza if necessary.

Israeli reactions to the ceasefire

Many Israelis expressed anger and opposed the agreement, viewing it as a concession that solidified Hamas’s status as the victor in the war.

Former Israeli general: Hamas is the victor

After 470 days of relentless attacks on Gaza, aimed at eliminating Palestinian Resistance, Former IOF Major General Giora Eiland has admitted that the war ended in a “resounding failure for Israel” and declared Hamas the victor.

Speaking to Channel 7 on Saturday evening, Eiland stated that “Israel” had failed to achieve its declared objectives. “Hamas will recover from the severe blow it suffered, not all the hostages will return, and Israel will not eliminate Hamas’s authority,” he acknowledged, reinforcing earlier critiques of the war’s outcomes.

Protests in Tel Aviv over captive exchange deal

Ahead of the ceasefire’s implementation, Tel Aviv saw widespread protests by settlers opposing the prisoner exchange deal. Demonstrators clashed with police, who deployed skunk water to disperse the crowds.

According to Israeli media, protesters expressed outrage over the agreement, demanding its cancellation. They argued that the deal “will release hundreds of Palestinian detainees, erase the achievements of the war, and pave the way for another attack similar to October 7.”

Read next: Divisions in 'Israel' over Gaza war prompt election demands petition

  • war on Gaza
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Ceasefire in Gaza
  • Itamar Ben-Gvir
  • Otzma Yehudit
  • Hamas
  • Israeli government

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Damage sustained after a Yemeni drone exploded in Ramon Airport, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Social Media)

Yemeni drone successfully hits Ramon Airport in southern Palestine

  • Politics
  • 7 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Elon Musk calls for dissolving UK parliament at London far-right rally

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas
Politics

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan
Politics

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor
Politics

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS